"The objective of the Safety Initiative marketing program is two-fold," said George Mergen, Marketing Director for ARCA. "We want to create the best possible environment for sponsor clients to connect with customers. The program allows Stäubli to work directly with the race competitors, giving them an opportunity to strengthen their brand and grow their business-to business relationships within the industry.

"For ARCA, safety always has been and always will be paramount, and partnering with Stäubli strengthens this effort. We seek to maintain a high level of responsibility in our own quest to provide the safest environment possible for everyone involved. We're excited to have Stäubli on board, and look forward to a successful 2011 season."

Stäubli is a mechatronics solution provider with three dedicated divisions: textile machinery, connectors, and robotics. With a workforce of over 3000, Stäubli has a presence in 25 countries and agents in 50 countries around the world. Information regarding Stäubli products is available at Staubli.com and Staubli-motorsport.com.

Stäubli's Associate sponsorship will allow the company to present a $200 product certificate at each ARCA race throughout the three-year program. The sponsorship also opens the door for new safety product development, including use of Stäubli's high-performance dry break connections, the incorporation of safe and environmentally-friendly ways to handle fuel sampling, and prevention of fuel leaks during impacts.

"The Safety Initiative partnership with the ARCA Racing Series is a significant program for Stäubli," said Jeff Barrow, motorsports manager for Stäubli. "Stäubli's high-performance connecting solutions have been well-recognized as the leader in safety solutions for fuel sampling, clean and efficient fluid transfer, and impact safety. We will be working closely with ARCA and their Safety Initiative staff to best determine how we can further protect the individuals, teams and environment from harsh fuel, oil and chemical spills.

"In today's push to be ‘green,' we must actively pursue and research ways to keep motorsports at the forefront of reducing environmental impact. To have Stäubli Corporation and our FIA-approved quality safety products associated with the ARCA Racing Series is a giant step in the right direction for circle track motorsports. We expect to gain a great long-term partnership with ARCA and their technical staff that are associated with the safety program."

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.